Animal-trap.



No. 744,343. PATBNTED' NOV. 17, 1903.

W. G. HOOKER.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1903.

, explained.

UN lTED STATES Iatented Liovember 17, 190?;

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM c. HOOKER, or ABINGD'oN, ILLINOIS.

ANlMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,343, dated November 17, 1903.

v Application filedJ'une 11 1903. Serial No. 161,059. (No model.)

2'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. HOOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Animal-- Trap, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animal-traps, and particularly to that class of traps which are employed for catching mice, rats, or the like, and has for its object to produce a device of this character which will be simple of construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation, owing to its extreme sensitiveness.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel details of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device set for operation. Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the trap sprung. Fig. 4 is a detailed view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a platform composed of any suitable material, but preferably of wood.

2 indicates a member for supporting the platform distant from the floor, said member being preferably in the form of a wire bent to form arms or pins which engage with the lower face of the platform and depend therefrom and a connecting crown or bridge portion which rests upon the floor. This supporting member is situated near the longitudinal center of the platform, between its true center and the rear or trigger end, thus serving as a fulcrum on which the platform may rock.

v3 is a spring actuated jaw or fly pivoted to the top of the platform and adaptedtoswing to and fro longitudinally of the same in the manner and for the purpose to be presently This jaw consists of a single piece or strip of metal bent into substantially U form having sides 4 and an end 5 and so mounted that its sharp edge will contact with the plat-form.

6 is a metal rod, preferably wire, mounted in bearings 7 upon the upper face of the platform at or near its longitudinal center. This rod connects the sides 4 of the jaw near its open end and serves as a pivot on which the same swings, the rod being suitably headed at its ends to prevent the escape of the jaw.

8 indicates a pair of torsion springs mounted on the rod 6 and each having one of its ends 9 bearing on the platform and its other end 10 engaging anorifice 11, formed in the side of the jaw. These springs,which are mounted one near each end of the rod, are placed under tension and apply force to the jaw in the usual and well-known manner.

12 indicates a retaining member, preferably consisting of a length of wire having an eye formed at one end for pivotal attachment to the platform by means of a staple or the like and adapted for engagement of its free end with a pivoted trigger 13 in the manner presently described. The trigger 13 is preferably of plate metal and has its end bent around the rod 6 for pivotal connection therewith and has arecess 14 formed in its body just below its pivotal point for receiving and engaging the free end of the retaining member when the jaw is locked in its open position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The trigger extends downward from its point of connection with the rod 6 through an orifice 15,formed through the platform, and has its free end below the platform bent to form a pedal 16.

17 is a recess formed in the upper face of the platform and adapted to receive the bait.

In operation when thetrap is set, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the jaw will be turned upon its pivot to its open position. The retaining member will be engaged over the same and maintained 'in such position by engaging its end into the recess 14 of the trigger. In this position of the parts the member 2 will sustain the bulk of the weight of the platform, with the pedal 16 of the trigger bearing lightly upon the floor and sustaining just sufficient weight of the platform to render the trigger extremely sensitive, so that a very slight weight or pres sure on the forward end of the platform will serve to rock the same on the me'mber2 as a fulcrum and operate the trigger, causing the retaining member to be released from engagement with the recess 14, and thus release the jaw, which will be instantly and forcibly returned to its closed position by means of th springs 8.

a trigger pivoted on the rod and having a recess for the engagement of the end of the retaining member, said trigger being extended through the orifice to the bottom of the platform and operable by pressure on the latter to release the member and spring the trap. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

\VILLIAM Ci HOOKER. Witnesses R. J. DENNY, F. P. TYLER. 

